Customs revenues of the Afghan government slumped by almost 70 percent in the last two months as the Taliban, who are going all out militarily to wrest power and control the country, extended its control over strategic locations, port towns, and key trade routes. Daily custom revenues came down to $1.8 million from earlier $6.18 million. 

The Budget and Finance Committee of the Afghan parliament released the figure, showing the drastic fall in the government collections amid the Taliban’s ascendence. However, the finance ministry argued the areas and ports captured by the insurgent group are of second-tier sources, meaning low-income generating sites. 

Importantly, as the war intensified in the country’s north, trade from Central Asian countries was seriously affected, with trucks refusing to pass through the war zone. 

Illegal checkpoints for extortion money also mushroomed across the country further discouraging what is left of cross-border trade in these areas. “Even the closure of one port has an impact both on Kabul and all of Afghanistan,” Younus Momand, the deputy of the Afghan Chamber of Commerce and Industries, said. 

(SAM)